This is a question we receive over and over, and it is worth elaborating on this topic.
Here are some general guidelines for parking in the Osa Peninsula while visiting Corcovado National Park.
- Hotels and Accommodations: If you’re staying at a hotel or guesthouse, they often provide parking for their guests. Check with your accommodation provider if they have a designated parking area and if there are any fees associated with it. Some lodging options do not have parking at all, however, most of them will be able to recommend where to park your car safely during the night or while you are on a tour. If your hotel is in Puerto Jiménez village or Drake Bay village, you should be able to leave your vehicle a your hotel and walk to the meeting point for your Corcovado excursion and other activities.
- Public Parking: Some areas in town may have public parking lots or spaces. These are generally safe during the day, but it’s a good idea to remove any valuable items from your car and lock it securely.
- Street Parking: You’ll also find street parking available in various parts of Puerto Jiménez and Drake Bay. These are not quite recommended if you plan to leave your car unattended for several hours. Most streets are narrow and transited by bicycles, motorcycles, ATVs, cars and trucks.
- Ask Locals: When in doubt, don’t hesitate to ask locals or your accommodation hosts for advice on where to park safely in a specific area. They’ll often have the most up-to-date information on the best parking options in the area.
Here are some places where you can park your car safely while you are going on a Corcovado trip.
Puerto Jiménez
In diagonal to the dock, there is a public parking lot on private property to park your car. It costs 2000 colones per day and you can leave your car for the night. There is somebody at all times and it is gated at night. Locals know the place as ‘el parqueo de don Miguel en la playa’. You can park there if you are going to Sirena or La Leona and walk up to the meeting point.
Here is the exact location: https://goo.gl/maps/9nrwGRxYessg6Yo17
Carate
If you travel to Carate with your own 4×4 vehicle, you can leave it at the end of the road on the beach. It is called Coco Osa. The price is $5 per day and you can leave it overnight. The guided hikes start right from there.
Here is the exact location: https://goo.gl/maps/C1dqJ1hBnwrEvryc6
Drake Bay
Visitors to Drake Bay typically rely on accommodations to leave their vehicles. However, if your accommodation is not within walking distance from the main beach, there is a designated parking area provided by the locals doña Emilce and don Omar right on the main beach for a cheap price. You can leave your vehicle overnight in front of their house and they charge a small fee. The main beach is called Playa Agujitas by locals, but on most maps you will see it as Playa Colorada.
Here is the exact location of the parking in Drake Bay: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2WHm9z1N7v63sfYR6
Drake Bay also has lodging options along the coast that are accessible only by boat. If you choose one of them, we recommend that you leave your car in Sierpe at the restaurant don Jorge La Perla del Sur. Your host will then indicate to you how to access the accommodation. You might get picked up in Sierpe or have to take the taxi boat to Drake Bay’s main beach first and get transferred
to another boat. The cost of parking in Sierpe is $6 per day. You should also leave your car there if your vehicle is not a 4×4.
Here is the exact location of the parking in Sierpe: https://goo.gl/maps/emsoHPB8xZs84UA69
Can I use my car to reach Corcovado and save on transport?
It depends on the station you go to. You can reach the main villages of Puerto Jiménez, Drake Bay and Sierpe with your own vehicle. Which is from where the tours normally start. You would need a 4×4 only if you plan to reach Drake Bay. There is no more river crossing, but some steep uphill. It is a gravel road from Rincon up to Drake Bay.
La Leona
You can drive your car to the end of the road in Carate, but from there, it’s a 3.5 km hike to reach La Leona. A 4×4 vehicle is required, as the road conditions can be challenging, and a regular SUV might not be sufficient—better not to take the risk. The route includes river crossings and some uphill sections with loose gravel.
If you’re doing a multi-day tour and plan to enter and exit the park at La Leona, you can use your vehicle (and bring your guide with you from Puerto Jiménez). However, if you’re entering and exiting the park at different stations, it’s not practical to drive to one station and then pay for a taxi to retrieve your car after the tour.
For a day tour to La Leona, we recommend staying in Puerto Jiménez and traveling to Carate with your guide. Along the way, the guide will also point out interesting wildlife and sights as you drive.
Sirena
No. If you are taking a day tour to Sirena, the only way to access Sirena is by boat from either Puerto Jiménez, Drake Bay or Sierpe. You can also walk to Sirena from La Leona by taking an overnight tour.
San Pedrillo
No. You must leave your car in Drake Bay. The tour is by boat from Drake Bay or Sierpe. It is not possible anymore to walk from Sirena to San Pedrillo.
Los Patos
No. Los Patos is accessible with a high 4×4 only. The river needs to be crossed several times and only specific local drivers know where to cross because some sections are deep and it is easy to get stuck. We will book the transportation for you. The only option that you can provide your transport for a tour to Los Patos is starting the tour in La Tarde, involving an additional 5 km hike before reaching the station.
Puerto Jiménez and Drake Bay are safe and welcoming villages, but like any tourist destination, it’s essential to take precautions to ensure the safety of your vehicle and belongings. Regardless of where you park, take standard safety precautions like locking your car, not leaving valuable items visible, and parking in well-lit areas, especially if you plan to leave your car overnight.
If the weather looks unfavorable and you’re planning to take your rental car on a backroad to reach your destination, it’s best not to risk encountering accidents, getting stuck in the mud, crossing rivers, or dealing with fallen trees that may block the road. Additionally, you might face issues like lack of signal to find alternative routes. Instead, take precautions and book transportation with one of our experienced drivers, who use higher and more adapted vehicles suited for the roads in the Osa Peninsula. All the above are only recommendations, we are not responsible for damage or robbery of your rental vehicule. Always have your car rental company emergency contact at hand.
